Ophthalmic mounting



March 29, 1927. 1,622,668

L. POETON ET AL OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed Nov. 6, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheetl ATTO EY l 622,668 'March 29 1927 L. POETON ET AL OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed Nov. e, 14924 2 sheets-sheets INVENTOR bawrehce Poeton. yrcmk ClIlloreB Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

i UNITED STATES PATENT n OFFICE.

LAWRENCE POETON AND FRANK A. MOREY, OF SOUTI-IBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, AS- SIGNORSTO AMERICAN OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING.

Application filed November rl`his invention relates to improvements in ophthalmic mountings, and has particular reference to an improved temple construction and an improved method of producing the same. i

An Aimportant object of the invention is to provide an improved temple having a nonmetallic covering formed of tubing having different cross sectional `areas at different portions of its length.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein different cross sectional areas are produced by the expansion of a portion of straight tubing.

Another object is to provide suoli a device having a tubular covering of non-metallic material expanded at certain points and reinforced by shape retaining plugs.

Still another object is to provide an improved process for the production of such devices.

With these and other objects in view fthe invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and the steps in the improved process hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,A and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

1n the drawings forming a part of this application, and wherein similar lreference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a side elevation of a `temple. embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a non-metallic tube and illustrates one step in the process;

Figure 8 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the metallic core;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through the shape retaining plug;

Figure 6 isa view partially7 in section illustrating the tube, core and plug in assembled relationship; Y

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View through the end of the temple, and showing how the end of the tube is shrunk over the plug;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the 6, 1924. Serial N0. 748,157.

end of the temple after it has been formed to the proper shape;

Figure 9 is a plan View showing the tenipletube provided with a helical cut;

Figure 10 is a side elevation illustrating the next step in the forming of a side portion of the temple;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional-viewl on the line 11-11 of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of temple embodying the invention;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional vienr on the line 13-13 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a side elevation of a tube used in the construction of another form of temple;

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tube illustrated in Figure 14 and the parts assembled with it;

Figure 16 is a side elevation of a: temple so formed, and

Figure 17 is a transverse sectional view on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Referring particularly t0 Figure 1, it Will be seen that our improved temple comprises a. substantially straight side portion 20, having a hinge connection 2l at its forward end, and having its rear end bent as at 22 to form an ear engaging loop. The side portion and the ear engaging loop 22 are formed from a continuous piece of tubing 23, 'which is preferably of a non-metallic material, such as zylonite. One end of the tube 23 is expanded, as at 24, to produce a larger cross sectional area than the main body portion', the method of expansion being to heat the tube and force the end over a tapered mandrel for the desired length.

lVe next produce a metallic core member which has a main body portion 25 formed of substantially inflexible metal wire, to the forward end of which is secured the hinge connection 21 of any suitable form. 4Adjacent the forward end the wire 25 is flattened, as at 26, or it may be provided with barbs or any other arrangement whereby the core may be securely anchored in the non-metallic tube. Rearwardly of the `body portion 25 is a wire cable 27 which provides a suitable degreeofllexibilty, while still maintaining the necessary resiliency so that the whole when assembled will retain its proper shape. The extreme rearward end is preferably provided with a screw thread as at 28, which may be secured within a bore 29' formed a pear-shaped plug member 30. The plug member 80 is preferably formed of the same non-metallic material as that'of the tube 23 and of a suitable size so that it may be con-- veniently introduced into the enlarged end 2a of said tube.

After these parts have been produced the metallic core is inserted into the tube 23, as clearly shown in Figure 6, and the plug member is secured in the yenlarged porr tion 24- by cementing the same in place. The parts are so proportioned that when they are assembled as shown in Figure 6, the extremity of the enlarged portion 24 will ex tend slightly beyond the plug member 30, whereupon by heating the same, such as by dipping in hot water, the extremity of the tube 23 will be shrunk, as shown at 31 in Figure 7, so as to completely embed the plug member 8O and conceal it from view. After the extremity of t-he tube has been thus shrunk it is placed in a pair of dies and molded to the required finished shape, or in place of molding it may be finished oft' in a lathe or other suitable machine tool.

The next step in the manufacture of our temple is to provide a portion of the nonmetallic tube with a helical groove, as indicated at 32 in Figure 9. This helical groove is disposed intermediate the two ends,and usually rearward of the longitudinal center. This helical groove in the tube provides suitable flexibility and at the same time maintains a smooth finished surface on the outside of the tube after the ear loop is bent to the required shape.

We next preferably flatten the side portion 20 of the temple into an elliptical cross section, as best shown in Figures 10 and 11, whereby the rigidity of the side portion in the vertical plane is increased so as to provide a much stronger mounting and one of a neater appearance than is possible from a plain circular tube. After the parts have been thus assembled and shaped, the flexible portion 32 is bent into the required form to produce an ear loop, as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 12, we have shown a modified form of temple wherein the side portion 2O is provided with the usual hinge member 21, as in the previous embodiment, the principal difference being that the temple is somewhat shorter than that shown in Figure 1, and the end thereof is given a small offset as at 33, whereby an ear engaging portion is produced.V AlsoV in this form the enlarged extremity 34 is given an oval shape, as shown in Figure 13, instead of leaving it in a round cross section shape, as in the previous form.

Referring particularly to Figures 111, 15,

ity of the tube over the core, molding it to 16 and 17, we have shown still another modilication whereby we may produce a larger temple, such as used in connection with the heavy all zylonite frames. In this form we provide a non-metallic tube 35 and expand both ends of the tube as at 36 and 37, the amount of expansion at each end being variable according to. the design. lNe then provide a metallic core 38 and a non-metallic plug 39', which is adapted to be received in the expanded end 36, that is, the forward endrofy the tube 35. A pear-shaped plug 4() is. also produced and placed in the expanded end' 'and concealed in place, as has been previously described, after which a helical groove l1 is produced on the tube 35- to give the proper flexibility. In this type of temple it isk preferable. that the inner surface should be flattened as shown at l2 in Figure 17, and this may be easily accomplished by pressing the same in a pair of heated dies.

From the foregoing it will be evident that we have provided an improved ophthalmic temple especially adapted for use in connection with imitation tortoise shell frames, which are at present so much in vogue, and also we have provided an improved method of producing such temples whereby the cost of manufacture will be comparatively low, 95 and at the same time the strength and linished appearance of the temple will be very desirable. Obviously changes may be resorted to in the form, details of construction and in the arrangement of the steps of our process7 and we herein reserve the right to make such changes falling within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A spectacle temple comprising a nonmetallic tube provided with a helical groove intermediate its ends, the rear ungrooved extremity of the tube being expanded to a larger cross sectional area, a shape retaining plug secured in the expanded extremity, and a metallic cord extending through the tube, said core having a. flexible portion substantially coextensive with the helical groove.

2. rlhe method of producing a temple, consisting in forming a non-metallio tube with an expanded extremity, inserting a plug in the expanded portion, shrinking said ex panded portion over the plug, molding the extremity to desired shape, and cutting a helical groove intermediate the ends of the tube.

3. The method of producing a temple, consisting in forming a non-metallic tube with an expanded extremity, inserting a plug in the expanded portion, inserting a metallic core through the tube and anchoring same in the plug, shrinking the extremdesired shape, and cutting a helical groove intermediate the ends of the tube.

connection on one end, inserting the core in the tube, anchoring the extremity of the core 10 4f. The method of producing a temple, in the plug, forming the end of the tube to consisting in forming a non-metallic tube 5 with an expanded extremity, forming a pear-shaped non-metallic plug, cementing said plug in the expanded extremity of the tube, forming a metallic core with a hinge conceal the plug, and cutting a helical groove intermediate the ends of the tube.

LAWRENCE POETON. FRANK A. MOREY. 

